The Human in The Wolf's Den

Chapter17: Falling

Xander woke the next morning with a sense of peace he had yet to experience. It felt amazing and it was all thanks to the small boy snuggled against his chest still asleep. Xander began to snuggle back but froze as his half asleep mind snapped awake. He pushed away from his mate to get some distance. The bond was almost suffocatingly strong now.

Who cares? Let the bond grow. I want my mate Xander. Hold the boy and go back to bed.

Xander wanted to argue with his wolf but couldn't find reason to. The bond was increasingly clouding his judgement. He couldn't seem to muster up any reason why not to listen to his wolf but wanted to fight it since it was only the bond doing its job.

Xander's decision was made for him as Cassian searched for Xanders warmth that was so abruptly ripped from him. It didn't take more then a second for him to be once again pressed skin to skin to his master. He sighed in relief at the contact.

At the feel of Cassian's naked body against his own all thoughts of anarchy against the bond flew from his mind. Pulling Cassian flush against him he basked in the lovely sense of peace. He didn't stop his hand from stroking Cassian's spine nor did he stop taking in  large whifs of his scent. Xander was definitively in trouble now.

Cassian had never felt so comfortable sleeping in his entire life. Not even when Xander gave him his matress. He lazily opened his eyes to finally see what had changed. His eyes widened when they finally focused on the wall of mussel he was pressed against. Cassian shivered in delight of the feel of his master's hand running up and down his back. What was happening?

Cassian was in his master's bed being held by the alpha himself. He froze and tried to even out his breathing for fear of ruining the moment. Sadly it seemed to be too late as the hand on his back stuttered to a halt.

"You can go back to sleep its still early." Xander didn't want his mate to leave the bed yet. He knew he could get away with another hour of just laying here and he wanted to do it.

Cassian wanted to stay like this but knew he shouldn't push his luck. Sighing he removed himself from Xanders chest.

"Thank you for letting me lay with you master." Standing he walked over to his cage to give Xander the space he wanted.

"Wait, if your up lets go shower." Xander was grasping at straws now. He didn't want Cassian to know that the bond had grown so much stronger. He would have to continue to make excuses to stay close with the boy until he decided it was safe to mate him.

"Very well master." Cassian switched direction towards the bathroom. "Will you be showering first master?"

"I think we can shower together." Xander mumbled getting out of bed and walking into the bathroom behind his mate. He'd never felt so self-conscious. Cassian noticed this and was shocked to see his master in such a state.

"Are you feeling ok master?"

Xander found sudden interest in the knobs of the shower in an attempt to hide the blush rising in his cheeks. Cassian mustn't know the extent of which he was effecting him. "I'm fine."

Cassian knew better then to question his master and opted for a silent nod. Once Xander felt his face cool he stepped into the shower then motioned Cassian in.

Cassian tentatively stepped in beside his master. He didn't know where to put his arms or legs so he just held perfectly still. This whole situation was new to him. 

"I'll wash you then you can return the favor." Xander tried to sound casual about the whole thing, wolves groomed each other all the time.

Cassian was very excited by the prospect of bathing his master. He hasn't been allowed to do any work since being moved to this room and it was starting to get to him. He was a slave after all, should he not be the one cleaning,cooking and taking care of all of Xander's needs?

Cassian got to work immediately. After weeks of practice and a few tips from Jullia he was now a pro at showering.

Taking the shampoo he lathered it between his hands before attempting to reach for his master's dark locks. There was a small dilemma in height difference but that was solved as his master leaned down a bit after realizing the hold up.

Xander was enjoying the feeling of his  mate's small hands running through his wet hair. He dutifully rinsed it out and watched Cassian as he went onto the body wash. Cassian squeezed out a dollop of the gel into his own hands before smoothing it on to Xander's skin expertly washing away the days grime. Cassian started on Xander's broad muscular shoulders and worked his way down the smooth planes of his back. As he worked he took in every touch and sight commuting it to memory for when Xander wouldn't be in such a calm mood.

With his mate so focused on his task Xander was able to close his eyes and enjoy the feeling of Cassian's delicate gentle hands kneading his muscles. He hadn't realized his body was still taught with the need to attack. Just thinking of yesterday's events made his muscles coil in preparation to pounce. Feeling the change in Xander made Cassian pause for a moment but he started up again when Xander didn't say anything. The continued attentions of his mate had Xander very relaxed and enjoying every moment until  he felt a terrible intrusion. Eye's suddenly popping open he pushed Cassian's hands away more roughly then he intended.

"What were you doing?" Xander gritted out.

"Jullia said that I have to wash there too... She said now that I was mated to you I would have to keep myself clean everywhere. Is it not the same for you?" Cassian asked innocently.

Xander breathed a sigh of relief. "No I don't need to be cleaned down there. Only you do."

Xander suppressed a smile at the boys wide eyed innocent stare.

"Really? Just me? Why?" Cassian was very confused.

Xander's face heated once more. "Ummm.. Let us finish washing up and I'll explain when we are both clothed."

Deciding to cut the shower short (especially if Xander would have to endure watching Cassian clean himself there.) Xander shut the shower off . Every movement Xander made never ceased to remind him of where his mates hands had been just a moment ago. Xander was somewhat disappointed at not getting to bathe Cassian but probably wouldn't have been able to handle even watching Cassian.

He still needed more time before completely making Cassian his mate.

No you don't. I can see your mind Xander. Your lying to yourself and to me. You've already made up your mind about him. The only thing you have left to do  is see that awful therapist. Can't we just drop the presents of those stupid session! It's shameful and degrading!

Xander sighed and was about to respond but Cassian who had watched his master stand perfectly still while starring of into space for an extended period of time nudged his master out of the internal argument.

"Master? Are you ok?"

Xander shook himself once to keep himself out of his inner turmoil.

Don't ignore me!

I am not, I am paying attention to our mate. Shutting out his wolf he turned to his mate.

"Fine. Dry off before you get sick."

Cassian did as his master told without complaint while Xander walked off to the  closet to dress. He had been shivering ever since leaving the shower and was happy to be dry. Once that was done he walked over to the dresser containing his clothes and was about to put on a t-shirt and jeans (Cassian hated the clothes but knew his master wouldn't want him walking around naked.) but was stopped by Xander.

"Wear this today." Xander ordered handing Cassian one of his button downs. 

Cassian was pleased to be safe from the irritating jeans but gave Xander a questioning look.

Xander didn't answer his mate's unspoken question. He didn't need to explain himself. Didn't need to tell Cassian that in the aftermath of yesterday's events he needed to wrap himself around Cassian like a pretzel but since that was not possible without alerting the boy to Xander's fall he settled for making him wear his shirt to ease the the pang of a small bit of his longing.

Cassian didn't voice his own thoughts in the matter of the shirt, too excited to be wearing Xander's clothes.

Someone knocked on the door just as Cassian finished buttoning up. Xander let out a low growl at the intrusion. Everything about the mate bond now he Xander on the very edge. If Cassian wasn't safely in his own bedroom wearing his shirt and covered in the aroma of their scenting he would probably attack whoever was on the other side of the door.

But since Cassian was in fact covered in his scent and safe Xander was able to calm down and answer the door.

"Is it true? Has he been with another!" Titus growled. He felt so stupid trying to be on the boys side and then hear about this... this disgusting betrayal!

Xander let a growl rip through his throat.

"You will not speak of my mate that way! He would never do such a thing! Now get the f**k out before I rip your throat to shreds." Xander seethed.

"So the others were lying? They said that the boy smelled of another.... a human even! Forgive me alpha. If the pack member who told me this was lying then I apologize for accusing your mate of such a thing." Titus bowed deep in apology appeasing Xander's anger at the man a moment ago.

"He has not mated with another. Go to the pack and make it clear that those rumors will not be tolerated. I will not be leaving my rooms for a few days. Make sure no one bothers us." Xander commander signaling the end of Titus' welcome.

Smelling the air Titus understood exactly what had transpired here. Something had happened just not what those species pack members had assumed. Titus would be sure to put them all in their place. He quickly left the alpha to his own devises not meaning to intrude on this hard time.

"Why can't you leave the rooms?" Cassian didn't mean to ask but the question had slipped out on its own.

Xander had hoped Cassian's aversion to being free would not allow him to question why Xander was spending the entire weekend in his apartment without so much as stepping a foot out but it appeared Xander would not be so lucky.

What was lucky however was that Xander didn't need to answer Cassian's question. "That is none of your concern."

Cassian nodded in agreement. Shouldn't have asked in the first place.